Medical Records Access Fairness Act of 2026

Legislative bill overview

HR 7790 establishes standardized procedures and timelines for patients to access their medical records from healthcare providers. The bill aims to reduce delays and inconsistencies in how healthcare providers respond to patient record requests, requiring compliance with specific deadlines and establishing penalties for non-compliance.

Why is this important

Patients frequently experience delays or obstacles when requesting their own medical records, which can impact healthcare decisions, insurance claims, and legal proceedings. Standardizing access requirements could improve patient autonomy and reduce administrative burden, while also creating compliance costs for healthcare providers and potential disputes over implementation standards.

Potential points of contention

• Provider compliance costs: Healthcare facilities, especially smaller practices, may face significant expenses upgrading systems to meet new digital access and delivery requirements
• Liability and security concerns: Expanded access requirements could create disputes over how to securely transmit sensitive health information and who bears responsibility for breaches
• Definition of "medical records": Disagreement likely over what qualifies as accessible records (e.g., provider notes, mental health records, genetic information) and what exemptions should apply